by Linda Verji
From the flower bed he picked up a large stone and threw it at one of the windows. It exploded in a hail of breaking glass. The piercing sound of alarms going off shattered the still night air. Kian knew that in a few seconds the police would be here but would it be enough time for him to get to Tasha and the kids?
Please God – let them not be hurt. All he could see as he clambered into the den was the shadows of the furniture. In his haste to get in, Kian knocked over a footstool sending it crushing to the floor with a loud clutter as he fell on all fours. Pain from crashing into the heavy wood zipped through Kian’s body but he was too focused to dwell on it. He hid behind the door, waiting for Polo.
“Who’s there?” Polo shouted from somewhere upstairs. His crutches thumped rhythmically on the ceiling above the den as if he was walking. His stumbling steps sped up on the landing as he got to the stairs. “Who the fuck is in my house? You wanna die too?”
You wanna die too? Had he killed them?
Polo lurched down the steps and past the foyer before pushing the door to the den. The heavy wood stopped just short of smacking Kian. Polo flicked a switch, flooding the den in lights.
“Where the fuck are you?” He limped into the room on crutches, naked except for the cast on his leg. The metal barrel of the gun he was holding glinted in the harsh lights. His back to Kian, he waved the gun around the room looking for someone to put a bullet into.
Who the fuck confronts an intruder without looking behind the door? Apart from being a sick dick, he was also a stupid one. He was making this too easy for Kian. Kian lunged at him from the back tackling him to the ground.
They landed on the ground with a heavy thud and loud groans. Polo’s crutches clattered to the floor but both men were too busy to notice them. Kian grunted as Polo tried to jerk him off his back. Linebacker that he was, Polo was really strong so it was hard to keep him down. Kian planted his knees on the sides of Polo’s body to keep his weight hard on Polo’s broad back and kept his hand on the back of Polo’s head, pushing his face to the floor.
Sirens whined in the distance but Kian was too busy trying to disarm Polo to focus on them. He grabbed at the hand that still held the gun. An unholy noise came from Polo’s throat when Kian seized his wrist and slammed it against the floor with a force so strong he could feel the crack of bones. Polo let go of the gun and Kian picked it up.
Kian could’ve killed Polo right then and there – and some part of him wanted to. Blood lust ripped through him in successive waves but at the back of his mind one word still resonated. Tasha.
“Move and I’ll shoot you.” Kian pressed the barrel of the gun to the back of Polo’s head. Polo stopped struggling beneath him. Kian asked, “What have you done to them?”
Sounds of successive pounding on the door interrupted Polo’s mumbled response so Kian repeated, “What have you done to them?”
“They’re in here,” someone shouted, his voice coming from the direction of the broken window.
Kian didn’t look up. “Where are they?”
“Fuck y-”
Kian slammed Polo’s head to the ground keeping him from completing the sentence. Polo went completely still beneath him.
“Put your hands up and step away from the man,” someone said. Kian looked up his gaze clashing with that of a tall police officer in full uniform climbing through the broken window, his gun trained on Kian. “Sir, put your gun down.”
Kian took a deep breath trying to get my emotions under control as he got off Polo’s back and stood up. He dropped the gun before kicking it towards the officer. With his hands clasped to the back of his head, he turned to the officer. “You need to check on his wife.”
“We don’t take instructions from intruders,” the officer said as he yanked Kian’s hands from the back of his head and cuffed him.
A second office clambered into the den.
He was younger, thinner and shorter than the one who’d cuffed Kian. When he saw Kian, he stopped. “Hey, aren’t you The Shark?”
“Yeah, I am!” Kian snapped. “You need to check on his wife.”
“Hansen, check on the victim,” the officer holding Kian said to his comrade completely ignoring Kian’s words. It took all of Kian control not to just turn and kick his ass.
“Sir, are you okay?” Hansen bent down to Polo nudging him on the shoulder. Kian must’ve done a bang up job because Polo was non-responsive. Hansen said, “He’s out cold.”
As Hansen called 911, the officer holding Kian started to read him his Miranda rights. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may and will be used against-”
Kian interrupted him mid-sentence. “Look man, you need to check on his wife and make sure she and the kids are okay. She called me to come here.”
He didn’t think a white lie would make the situation any worse at this point. He just needed the officers to check on Tasha.
“How do you know his wife?” The officer paused in his activity, a hint of suspicion still tingeing his voice.
Maybe it was the desperation in Kian’s voice but something made the officer look up and Kian took advantage of it to quickly explain, “She’s a friend. I was just coming to check on them when I heard gunshots. I knew the only thing to do was disarm him. He already beats her up. I didn’t want him killing her too.”
The moment Kian mentioned ‘beats her up’, the officer’s demeanor changed and he loosened his hold on Kian’s arms. Kian added, “Please just check that she and the kids are okay.”
“Hansen, go check upstairs.”
By the time Hansen came back Polo had awakened.
“All the rooms are empty except for one, Jim. Door’s locked and there’re several bullet holes in it,” Hansen said. “No one’s answering. Tried kicking it in and it’s a no go. We’re going to have to call for backup.”
“Shit.” Jim walked over to Polo who was now starting to sit up and sporting a bloody nose and a huge bump on his forehead. “Where are the keys to the room?”
“Ask that fucking bitch. She’s the one…” Before he could complete the sentence, Jim’s booted foot caught him in the side of the body. Polo groaned as he fell back to the floor.
“Uncuff him.” Jim threw his keys to Hansen who released Kian. Jim crouched till he was at face level with Polo then pointed to Kian as he spoke. “Don’t let me ask you again. If I have to, I’ll let him at you. What have you done to your wife?”
“Nothing,” Polo said. “She locked herself in the room.”
Polo had no idea where the keys were. While Hansen called for the firemen, Kian and Jim searched for a way to get into the locked room. Luckily they found a trellis dropping down from the window. Kian’s heart pounded harder as he and Jim climbed up the trellis and through the window. All the while he was praying that they wouldn’t find dead bodies in there. There were none.
It was obviously Asia’s room from the colorful décor and her clothes packed neatly in the closet. After checking the en-suite to make sure there was no one, he unlocked the door and then walked to the other rooms counterchecking to make sure Hansen was right and they weren’t in the house.
Where were they?
Kian tried calling Tasha one more time but only her voicemail greeted him again. He was just about to go back downstairs when he heard the sound of ringing coming from one of the room. The ringing phone sat on the bedside table.
The moment Kian picked it up, a male voice yelled over the line, “Polo, I’m gonna fuck you up. I’m gonna fuck you up so bad you’ll think the broken nose I gave you was a paper cut. Pussy ass nigga putting hid hands on-”
Kian interrupted, “This isn’t Polo.”
“Who the fuck are you?” The man said sourly, this time his voice wasn’t so loud.
“My name’s Kian. I’m Tasha’s friend.” Kian’s gripped the phone tightly as he asked, “Is she okay? The kids?”
“Yeah. She’s good. They’re good.” The caller responded, his voice instantly taking on an apo
logetic tone. “Sorry man, I thought you were that psycho. I’m Lucky, her friend’s husband.”
Introductions made, Lucky explained the situation on his end to Kian. Apparently Tasha had gone to their house after Polo had attacked her. She’s okay. Finally Kian took his first easy breath of the night.
“Do you think I can come and see her?”
“Sure!” Lucky acceded. “I’ll let her know you’re on your way.”
CHAPTER 14
Everyone had settled in. Asia was asleep in the Ford twins’ room, Ash had gone to the nursery and Jaslene was in one of the other guest rooms. Tasha was glad Polo hadn’t gone much further with Jaslene than groping her and ripping her clothes but Tasha still couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that she’d put her sister in that situation. That should’ve been her cross to bear and now Jaslene was stuck with the memory of someone trying to attack her. Jaslene hadn’t smiled the whole night - something that was completely foreign to her.
“I’m not playing. I’m going to kill him.” Zain didn’t bother hiding the anger in her voice as they lay on the bed in the dark room. “Tasha how could you not tell me all this was going on?”
Tasha was glad for the dark because it hid the shame she knew was lurking in her eyes. “There was nothing you could do.”
“Tasha, I’m your best friend.” Hurt and disappointment warred equally in Zain’s voice as she spoke, “We could’ve found some way to get you out of there.”
“If I’d told you, I knew you’d get involved and he threatened that if any of you did, he was never going to donate his kidney,” Tasha said looking up at the dark ceiling. She still didn’t know what she was going to do about Asia’s situation. She’d tried so hard to save her daughter yet she’d still failed. The two women lay silently in the dark both lost in their thoughts.
Zain turned to face Tasha. Her features were lost in the shadows but Tasha could hear the concern in her voice as she said, “You still should’ve told me.”
Tears rose to the back of Tasha’s throat, chocking her next words. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Zain shifted closer to Tasha and hugged her.
“Zain-”
“If you’re going to say thank you, don’t” There was tenderness in Zain’s voice as she patted Tasha’s shoulder. “This is what family does for each other. You were there to support me when I needed you so you can just call this payback.”
Tasha knew that her own family would’ve never been this supportive, making her all the more grateful to the Fords. So she said it anyway. “Thank you.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Lucky, go away.” Zain shouted as she shifted on the bed to lie on her back. “I’m sleeping in here tonight.”
Lucky kissed his teeth loud enough that even through the door that separated them, the ladies could hear him. “Tasha has a visitor.”
“Who?” Both ladies sat up in bed just as Lucky pushed the door open and flicked on the lights. Tasha’s heart fluttered alarmingly when she saw Kian behind Lucky in his hand her handbag.
“Tasha?” Without even caring of the two other occupants in the room, Kian strode over to the bed, sat and then dragged Tasha to his lap, crushing her against his body. Her nostrils flared at the musky male scent of him. His hands raked over her, patting her down as if to make sure she still pulsed with life.
“Kian, I’m okay.” Tasha soothed. His response was a kiss so heated, it seared with blatant possessiveness. He held her tightly to him as if afraid that if he didn’t hold on tight enough something would happen to her. She slid an arm around his neck as she repeated, “I’m okay.”
“I thought he’d killed you and the kids.” Kian buried his face in her neck pressing kisses on her bare shoulders.
Tasha let out an unsteady gasp of laughter. “You know I wouldn’t let that happen.”
Kian lifted his head, his gaze clashing with hers. In his eyes a storm of worry still raged on. His jaw hardened as he exclaimed, “Jesus, Tasha! You should’ve called.”
How? Her emergency phone was in her car and they’d rushed out too fast to get her car keys. It was lucky she kept some security cash in Asia’s backpack because otherwise they wouldn’t even have had cab fare. But now wasn’t the time to tell Kian all that. Instead she said, “We’re okay.”
Zain cleared her throat beside her. Tasha had even forgotten that she was still in bed and blazed with embarrassment when she met her friend’s eyes. Zain smiled widely as she stretched out her hand to Kian. “Hi, I’m Zain.”
“Kian,” he responded as he shook her hand. He turned back to Tasha, a somber look in his eyes as he soothed her dark hair away from her forehead. “Tasha’s friend!”
“Tasha exactly how many ‘friends’ have you been hiding fr-” Lucky scooped Zain up in his arms before she could complete the sentence. “Lucky, put me down.”
“We’re going to sleep.” Lucky carried his wife towards the door. “Say goodnight to Tasha.”
“I’m not through with you, Tasha.” They closed the door behind them.
The moment Kian and Tasha were alone, he asked, “Baby, what happened tonight?”
The endearment sent a warm thrill through her, but Tasha pushed it aside to recount the night’s events. Occasionally fumbling for words, she narrated how she’d found Polo trying to rape her sister and the succeeding events. “It’s just lucky that we had our emergency pack in Asia’s room otherwise I think he would’ve really killed us.”
Kian’s body was tense with anger sparks of fury flashed in his eyes and pulsed in his voice. “I should’ve killed him.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.” The last thing Tasha needed was anyone going to jail because of her and her choices. Already her sister had suffered for them. She asked, “How did you even know we were here?”
Kian related how he’d spent his night finishing off with…“The cops took Polo away for the night but if we want him to stay in there any longer, you’re going to need to press charges.”
Was she going to press charges? Was she going to be here long enough to follow through with them? Tonight had complicated every aspect of her plan. Polo had forced her to run before she was ready but she still couldn’t go far because Asia still needed help. Even if the hospital found a donor, now that her friends knew what was going on, leaving the country wouldn’t be that easy – she knew them well enough to know that.
Polo wasn’t just going to sit back and watch her move on. However, pressing charges and taking out a restraining order on him might delay the inevitable. Tasha nodded, “Okay, I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Good.” Kian cupped Tasha chin and drew her closer for another kiss. His lips were firm against hers; the kiss passionate and sensual. Tasha could feel herself slipping into passion’s vortex with each tease and parry of their tongues and lips. However the moment she felt the lengthening of his dick beneath her, it was enough to douse any kind of desire she had. An erection only meant one thing. She scrambled off his lap and sat on the bed.
“What?” Kian asked. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.” Tasha shook her head, her eyes on her lap.
“It’s not nothing.” Kian reached for her hand. She let him have it but didn’t look up. Shifting closer to her, he said, “Tell me.”
Taking a deep breath, she said, “You want to have sex.”
Her declaration must have surprised him because he took a while for him to respond. When he did, it was to agree with her, “I do want to make love to you.”
“Well, I don’t.” Tasha still had the memories of Polo’s touch firmly ingrained in her head and just thinking of sex again was enough to send hives through her whole body. Besides that, any physical relations between her and Kian would complicate everything between them including her escape plan. She lifted her head to sneak a glance at Kian and found him staring at her contemplatively.
Tipping her chin before she could avert her glance, he said, �
�Okay.”
“Okay?” She couldn’t help the hint of disappointment in her voice. She’d expected more of a protest and for him to try to prove that he wanted her.
“I’m not going to push you into something you’re not ready for.” Kian wound his arm around her waist. “We don’t have to make love - for now.”
The ‘for now’ was enough to send a bolt of both thrill and anxiety. Before she could say anything more, he asked, “Do you mind if I stay here for tonight though? I can sleep on the couch.”
She didn’t want him to leave either and was quick to respond. “Sure.”
However, a cursory glance of the guest closet revealed that there were no extra beddings. “You can take the blanket and I’ll use the sheets,” Kian suggested.
“You’ll freeze to death,” Tasha protested. It made her nervous to even make the suggestion but care for his wellbeing forced her to. “We can share the bed.”
“Are you sure about that?” Kian asked. Tasha nodded despite her reservations. She was grateful when he got into the bed full clothed except for his jacket and shoes. But just in case, she scooted as far to the other side of the bed as she could.
“Good night.”
It was difficult to go to sleep. Despite the distance between them, she could still feel Kian’s presence beside her and it was both comforting and terrifying. What if his kindness was only a façade? What if he attacked her? She slept stiffly on her side, ready to take action in case anything happened. It was only when his breathing evened out into deep breaths of sleep that she finally clambered into fitful sleep.
CHAPTER 15
When Kian woke up, he was lying on his stomach, his arms wrapped around a pillow. He pried one eye open only to meet the early morning light seeping into the large room through the drapes. He took him a while to figure out where he was and how he’d gotten here but when he did, all that flashed in his mind was her name. Tasha.
Last night he’d fallen asleep before her but had woken up at around five to find her squeezed so tightly to the edge of the bed that he was afraid that if she even turned, she’d find herself on the carpeted floor. He’d wanted to tag her closer to the edge of the bed but for some reason he knew that that was a bad idea. Tasha was like a skittish animal that you had to be careful room. One wrong move and she’d run.
